If you're well-qualified and experienced, then I would aim higher than $1500 US/month. Cairo American College, Modern English (Brit and N.American), British International SChool of Cairo, New Cairo British School, Maadi British School, American International School...all decent contracts (CAC and BISC probably having the best packages and conditions) and decent conditions. I'm sure I've left a few out. Once you start applying, check back with school names, and I'm happy to give you my two cents.

If you're not a qualified K-12 teacher, that limits many of those opportunities. Straight ESL teaching to adults or young adults outside of the conventional secondary classroom is not well-paying, unless you have an MA TESOL, or possible a dip, and even then, places like the British Council (who want CELTA and DELTA grads) don't pay $1500/month. I could be wrong, so if someone on the board knows better about their salary, I'm sure they'll speak up, however, I just saw an post for thm in Cairo a few months ago, and the salary wasn't much.

If you search the name "madhouseminx" on this site, you'll see her experiences of trying to find straight ESL work (outside of the K-12 classroom) in Alex and Cairo. If you are willing to teach secondary students in English medium schools (quite likely your standard English classes coupled w/ a dose of Geography, US HIstory, or something like that) then you have more opportunities, and the chance becomes better of finding something around $1500/month w/ some form of accommodation. Most people who've taught HS kids in Egypt will tell you it's not a lot of fun. Discipline in many private schools is severely lacking, leaving many teachers frazzled.

If you do have the MA, then I would look into American University of Cairo.

I've been teaching for the last nine years, so I think I'm quite qualified.

The catch is that the Middle East tends to be as interested - if not more so - in your education credentials. Is your degree in primary or secondary education and are you a certified teacher in your home country? That is what the best schools require. That plus your 9 years experience should help you to get a job at the schools Stoth listed.

With only the experience, you are limited to the more 'difficult' schools.

There is a lot of opportunity for private lessons especially if you enjoy working with kids. It takes some organization, and can take awhile to build up a client list, but you can make quite a bit of money.

One catch is that Egyptian Pounds are often difficult to change to another currency like dollars or euros. Sometimes you can get private students who pay in foreign currency and that also helps.

Stoth can tell you more about the acceptability of your creds... if they will have any effect.

Well, no CELTA rules out the British Council, which would have been you hopes for the highest paid academy work. As VS said, you can supplement w/ private lessons, but friends of mine who taught w/ the now defunct ILI Heliopolis were no where newar $1500/month, even w/ accommodation. Egypt is liveable on less, but you'd have to be a frugle traveller.

Your credentials might lend themselves to some secondary positions. Most kids in HS level in Egypt are not beginners at all, though you'll get your fair share of low-level learners who've managed to pass through the system year after year.

Which school takes new grads?
I am a new grad with a B.A Sociology from Georgia State University and a Tefl Certification from Georgia State University which included a teacher practium for one semester. I did some volunteer teaching/tutoring at international refugee centers for 8 hours a week, helping adults. I want to work in the middle east and I need to know which country I should start at and how much will be the pay.

I won't say that any of these schools are 'great' but some are better than others and all should accept a non-qualified teacher (most prefer experience-some will take any English speaker w/ a pulse).

Thebes
Choueifat
Sakkara
New Horizons
American International School (possibly)
El Alsson (prefers qualified teachers and experienced teachers...might take you depending on their need)

If you searched this board for most of those schools, you'd see the good, bad, and ugly. I worked for Choueifat, and did a short stint w/ El Alsson. Flexibility is key to survive even the decent schools in Egypt.